Chapter 9

My pede tapped at a steady pace as I waited outside of Brainstorms lab, Infra-Red by Placebo playing through my earphones. I bit the mesh inside of my cheek and glanced nervously at the door that separated us.

Apparently, Brainstorm had wanted to show me this new experiment he'd been working on. Naturally, I'd be excited to see but now, I was downright nervous.

Who wouldn't be when their symbiotes were the experiment?

I'd been hesitant when he proposed the idea to me but my two already seemed to know what he was talking about so they complied. I eventually agreed to let him do it as long as they kept the bond open.

So far, I'd felt no pain from their end but I was still tense. I was staring at the floor but looked up when someone approached. 'So I see you eventually agreed with Brainstorm.' Rung asked as he looked down at me, his hands behind his back.

I nodded, taking the earphones and resting my arms on my knees, 'I don't know how he convinced me.' I sighed, tapping my knee, 'I just can't stop thinking of everything that could go wrong.'

'I'm sure they'll be fine.' Rung said, patting my shoulder, 'You'd be the first to know wouldn't you?' 'I know,' I said, 'But I still worry.'

'Well worry no more!' Brainstorm yelled as the doors threw open, making us jump, 'The operation was a success!' 'Oh thank Primus.' I said, getting up and rushing in after him, Rung behind me.

I walked in to see Remix and Skyraid both sitting on the operation table. Thankfully, neither seemed hurt. 'How're you two feeling?' I asked, putting my servo on Remix's helm.

'Good as ever boss.' He said, wagging his tail happily. 'That's good.' I said, 'But what did I say about calling me boss?' 'Force of habit.' Skyraid shrugged.

'So what did you do?' Rung asked as he looked at them, 'There appears to be no physical changes.' 'That's because it was a T-cog transplant.' Brainstorm explained. 'A what?' I asked.

'T-cog transplant.' He explained, 'A harmless and painless procedure. It was mostly used back in the war for bots who survived but had insides too messed up for use.' He walked over and stroked Skyraid, 'All animals are born with them but most go their entire lives without ever needing to use them. These two probably had theirs removed when they were captured so all I had to do was some their size and voilà! Two transformable pets.'

Remix huffed at him. 'Companion.' I corrected him, grinning as my wolf mumbled something about being called a pet. 'Right.' Brainstorm coughed and then handed me Skyraid, 'I gave them two different things to scan so they could come in handy in different situations.'

'What'd he get?' I asked, looking at the falcon perched on my forearm. 'Why don't you see for yourself?' He asked. Sky hopped down into my servos and immediately began transforming.

'Woah.' I said when he was done, holding something between a rifle and revolver. I then lifted the gun, aiming it around the room and looking through the scope. Mind you he was yelling, 'I AM DEATH! I AM FIRE!' While I pointed him around, making me and Remix laugh.

'He has multiple functions and a whole bunch of different options.' Brain explained, 'You'll be able to switch them and he can as well if you're unable.' 'That's awesome. Thanks.' I said Skyraid transformed and flew onto my shoulder.

'Don't mention it.' Brainstorm said, 'I had to get permission from about half the crew to finally let you have a gun.'

I stifled a laugh and stroked Remix, 'And him?' I asked. He gave me a toothy grin and jumped, transforming in midair. I gasped when he landed and walked over kneeling before I ran my digits over the overboard now in front of me.

'No freaking way.' I exhaled. 'Cool right?' Remix said. 'I modified a few things on him but he's taken to them pretty well.' The light blue mech said as the board spun around on its own before stopping for me to get one.

I carefully stepped onto the flat surface. It swayed a bit but I easily found my balance. Remix read my thoughts and moved forward at a slow pace.

It'd been a while since I'd been on one of these things but I quickly adjusted to it. Having the board be able to read my mind also helped.

In no time he increased the speed and we were soon zooming around the curved walls of the office, Skyraid flying after us and Rung and Brainstorm watching from the floor. I whooped as we sped back down and pulled to a stop right in front of them, spinning as I did.

'Oh, I missed that.' I said, getting off so he could transform again. 'Never knew being a board was so much fun.' Remix said, giving me his wolfy grin. 'Why don't you go try in a less enclosed space?' Rung suggested. My symbiotes and I smiled at each other before they ran out the door. I quickly ran to Brainstorm and hugged him, 'Thank you again!' I yelled and ran out, waving until I rounded the door.

'No problem!' He called back. I sprinted and caught up to the two, easily matching their pace as we ran down the halls. A few mechs called to me in confusion but I just said I was going outside.

We ran down the runway, Remix transforming just before we reached the bottom. I jumped off the edge and landed before speeding off across the landscape. Skyraid called from high in the air before he dove down and flew next to us.

I yelled in delight as we went, ramping up the stone structures that littered the landscape and swerving in between trees. I bent down to gain more speed as we broke out of the forest and into a field.

We sped across it, the wind whipping at my mask. I experimentally swerved from side to side, testing out the maneuverability Remix now had. But as I looked up, I immediately screeched to a stop before going behind a small outcrop of rocks that lined the edge of a hill.

I dropped to the ground, Remix transforming next to me and Skyraid flew down and landed on my knee. I pressed up against the rock, unsure of what I'd just seen. 'You ok?' The wolf asked, looking at me with concern.

'Yeah.' I whispered and crept over the rock, just peeking over the edge. My optics widened when I saw what was there.

It was a fricking dinosaur. And not just any average just above-helm-height- herbivore dinosaur. Nope. It was a fragging a-rex.

'What in the Pits?' I said, inching closer but keeping along the outcrop. It was sniffing around in the dirt, pushing rocks and boulders aside with its big snout. I looked up to examine its frame.

The bot seemed quite steadily built, with small arms that were made up with a bulky helm and powerful legs and tail. I stared in amazement at the Dinobot, observing but not getting closer. Until its helm went up and it looked around, sniffing the air.

Remix started growling slightly next to me so I put a reassuring servo on his helm. I watched as it walked over to where we previously were and sniffed around some more, pushing the rocks and going close to the ground.

'Easy.' I whispered and started backing away while its attention was turned. This was not something I wanted to fight but it then froze before it straightened and turned, looking directly at me.

'Boss.' Skyraid said, shifting nervously on my shoulder as it slowly came over, its optics never straying from my face. 'Just wait,' I said, not using my voice so I didn't startle it, 'We run at the first sign of trouble.' 'This whole situation feels like trouble.' Remix stated next to me.

I hushed him as it came, just mere feet away. My servos went up instinctively in surrender, showing they were empty. 'Now?' The falcon asked. 'No,' I said, 'I don't think he sees us as a threat. He's just checking us out.' The cyber wolf pawed the ground nervously next to me.

The silver and yellow T-rex came right up to me, looking at my visor. He exhaled deeply and my visor fogged up from his hot breath. Remix started growling again as he checked me out, occasionally snuffling my arms and stomach. As he did, my servo slowly went down and rested on his helm, gradually stroking it.

'It's alright.' I said as he looked up at me again, his red optics meeting mine, 'Were not here to hurt you.' I smiled as the dino then gently lifted to meet my touch, nuzzling my servo. 'I'm Radiowave.' I said, 'And this is Skyraid and Remix.'

He straightened until he was at eye level with me, 'Grimlock.' He said, only speaking a single word. 'Grimlock?' I asked, 'Is that your name?' He gave me a blank look before turning to Remix. The wolf's caution had turned to curiosity as he pawed at Grimlock's snout, gently tapping it.

'I always expected you guys to be more aggressive.' I said, running my digits over his neck plating, 'Sure you look scary but it seems there's more than meets the eye to you.' I smiled, 'When I put it like that, I guess you're just like Max then.'

Grim let out a deep sound but it wasn't a growl. I think it was actually closer to a purr as his helm tilted to the side and almost knocked me over. 'Woah!' I laughed, putting my arm around his neck to stop myself from falling.

Remix pushed my pedes to help me stabilize myself as I hung onto him. The dinosaur looked back at me, his optics full of curiosity. 'You're pretty cool.' I said, smiling at him, 'Do you live nearby or are you traveling with someone?'

He slowly thrust his helm in the direction opposite to where I came. 'Five.' He said, looking at some nonexistent object. 'You're traveling with five mechs?' I asked to which he nodded. 'Must be nice,' I laughed, 'We're voyaging with over two hundred.'

He blinked but then turned back to nuzzling me and this time, I fell right back into the dirt. Remix and Skyraid joined in as I burst out in laughter, holding the sides of his helm as he cuddled my stomach.

I then hugged him before being lifted into the air, making my wings flutter with happiness. Skyraid landed on his helm above me, and Remix bounced on the ground. I looked down, right into Grimlock's optics, and grinned, 'I think we've found a new friend.' I said down to my symbiotes.